AirAsia, the low-fare airline based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, made the inaugural service between Bali in Indonesia and Perth in Australia on July 17, 2009.
The carrier said it will launch twice-a-day, non-stop flights on the Bali-Perth route from August 19, 2009.
AirAsia, the regional airline that serves destinations in Malaysia as well in South-East Asia, said in a statement that it will also resume its flight between Johor Bahru in Malaysia and Bangkok in Thailand from July 21, 2009. The Johor Bahru-Bangkok service was stopped nearly three weeks ago.
Perth is the first destination in Australia to which Air Asia flies from Indonesia.
The airline said it is using a brand-new Airbus A320 plane on the Bali-Perth route.
According to Air Asia, Perth is the airline’s 4th international route being operated from the Bali hub – after Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
With the introduction of the Bali-Perth service, the AirAsia group currently has a total of 21 flights a week to Perth – including one non-stop flight to Perth from Kuala Lumpur.
Kathleen Tan, regional head of commercial operations of AirAsia group, explained in the statement that the demand for the Perth-Bali route has been “phenomenal” and that the AirAsia has sold over 75,000 seats since May 2009, when the carrier started ticket sale on the route.
AirAsia said the resumption of the Johor Bahru-Bangkok service, starting from July 21, 2009, has been approved by the Tourism Authority of Johor state as well as by travel agents.
AirAsia, the biggest budget airline in Asia, started the Johor Bahru-Bangkok flight in 2005, but suspended it a year later. The service was restarted in February 2008, only to be stopped once again in early July 2009.
The flight from Senai International Airport in Johor Bahru to Bangkok takes 2 hours.
An official of the Tourism Authority in Johor state welcomed AirAsia’s decision to resume the Johor Bahru-Bangkok flight, but warned against suspending the service again, adding that it is the policy of the Johor state government to make the Senai International Airport in Johor Bahru into a passenger hub.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand also hailed the resumption of the Johor Bahru-Bangkok flight, saying it was very convenient for those traveling from Johor to Thailand.
For Malaysians, Thailand, especially its capital Bangkok, is a favourite holiday destination. In 2008, 1.82 million Malaysians visited Thailand – a rise by 18% from 1.54 million visitors in 2007.
Meanwhile, AirAsia is planning to sell its 3 Boeing 737 planes as a part of the airline’s plan to have a fleet consisting of only Airbus 320 aircraft, according to Tony Fernandes, chief executive officer of the AirAsia group.
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